Yasutomo Hake Brush

These professional-grade wash brushes contain super-soft sheep's hair that's carefully selected and hand stitched into a one-piece hand split handle. The brush can be permanently divided into smaller sections by breaking apart the split handle. They can be used with a wide range of media and are well suited for ceramic art.

Because these are handmade brushes, there might be slight variations in size and hair length.

These brushes are made from really soft hair so they spread fluid paints beautifully. The one drawback is that they shed while you paint, so you must watch for the strands of hair and remove them as you are painting. However, this brush performs amazing, so they are great for backgrounds and layering large areas.

Clearly, these aren't top of the line, however they are nicer than the price point would imply. After opening the package, there where a couple loose hairs to clean off but it doesn't seem to be shedding (I think the loose hairs just didn't get cleaned off...these are cheap, so that shouldn't come as a surprise). These work well for loose watercolor washes, they are very soft so they hold a lot of water and don't lend themself to sharp strokes or details: perfect for loose, flowing work. These are also wonderful for glazing pottery for the same reasons.

These are easy to find if you live in a city that has import stores, but I don't, so it is nice to be able to get these along with my other art supplies from Blick.

I'm using this brush with charcoal powder. The brush is difficult to pull apart, by it is quite functional after you get it pulled apart. Some hairs have fell out, but not as much as I had expected. I think the brush would also work well with brushing graphite, cleaning work areas, or with watercolor. Hope this helps with making a purchase decision.I do use a hake brush for watercolors.

I bought this because it was recommended in a how-to book. It really does hold a lot of water and does a good job of wetting the paper evenly. However, it does shed a few bristles so keep a straight pin handy and carefully lift the bristle.

The product description says that you can take these apart (so as to use them as smaller Hakes) and put them together again. So if you get a 5 1/2" one you can take it apart and use it as a 1", a 1 1/2" and a 3".

My problem is, how exactly do you pull them apart and then how exactly do you put them together again?

The price of this product compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:

Average

Merchant response: At Blick we always attempt to provide the best information possible to our customers. The Yasutomo Adjustable Hake Brushes are held together by two bamboo spines, and you can “adjust” the brush by pulling outward toward the sides. There may be residual glue near the tuft that will have to be loosened the first time as well. You can then reconnect the sections by sliding the holes in the handle sections back over the spines. If you ever have specific questions regarding our products or how to use them, please contact our Product Information department at info@dickblick.com or by calling (800) 933-2542. Our product specialists will be happy to help you with questions about art materials, product applications, and techniques.